Learning to Slow Down and Rest

In my most recent meeting with my Spiritual Director, we talked about rhythms of work and rest. I said that for the first time in a while, I feel like I'm working from my rest, rather than resting from my work. 

The difference is, rather than catching up on rest at then end of a busy week, paying back a sleep debt and recharging over the weekend, rest has become a way to fuel me for the day ahead, and the week ahead in ways that are allowing me to be more present to my time off - where I'm able to read or write, or garden, or simply be. 

Rhythms of life are important things to pay attention to. What you say "yes" to can quickly become overwhelming, if you're in a habit of not intentionally paying atteniton to how much you're giving, and how much you're pouring back into yourself. 

Jesus modeled rest in his ministry often. He withdrew to lonely places to pray, and a few times, though their attempts for rest were thwarted at the time, he tried to get away to a quiet place with his disciples so they could have a meal together and enjoy a time of rest. 

As you probably know, if you're not giving your body the rest it needs, it will start to ask for it: through aches and pains, or illness; through irritability, or frustration. 

My rest time is often spent gardening - where i connect with God and the Earth, reading - a chance to learn something, or experience a new style of writing and imagination, journaling - where i list my gratitudes and prayers, and just being still, at home, at REST. 

How do you find rest that nurtures your soul and feeds your spirit?